2 Women Share 1st Kiss At US Navy Ship's Return

Photo courtesy MSNBC

MSNBC.COM - A Navy tradition caught up with the repeal of the U.S. military's "don't ask, don't tell" rule on Wednesday when two women sailors became the first to share the coveted "first kiss" on the dock after one of them returned from 80 days at sea.

Both women, ages 22 and 23 respectively, are fire controlmen in the Navy. They met at training school and have been dating for two years.

Navy officials said it was the first time on record that a same-sex couple was chosen to kiss first upon a ship's return. Sailors and their loved ones bought $1 raffle tickets for the opportunity. Gaeta said she bought $50 of tickets. The Navy said the money would be used to host a Christmas party for the children of sailors.

The ship returned to Joint Expeditionary Base Little Creek-Fort Story following an 80-day deployment to Central America. The crew of more than 300 participated in exercises involving the militaries of Honduras, Guatemala Colombia and Panama as part of Amphibious-Southern Partnership Station 2012.

Snell is based on the USS Bainbridge, the guided missile destroyer that helped rescue cargo captain Richard Phillips from Somali pirates in 2009.

KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho - The Idaho Department of Fish and Game wants to warn you about a grizzly bear that's been roaming around the Athol and Garwood area. Multiple people have reported seeing it, and wildlife officers have set up a trap to catch it, but so far they've been having trouble finding it. KHQ spoke with one woman who says the bear walked through her yard.

KOOTENAI COUNTY, Idaho - The Idaho Department of Fish and Game wants to warn you about a grizzly bear that's been roaming around the Athol and Garwood area. Multiple people have reported seeing it, and wildlife officers have set up a trap to catch it, but so far they've been having trouble finding it. KHQ spoke with one woman who says the bear walked through her yard.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Authorities say eight people were killed in a crash involving two vehicles in the high desert of eastern Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the head-on collision happened after 10 a.m. Monday on Oregon Route 78 southeast of the small town of Burns. Oregon State Police Capt.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Authorities say eight people were killed in a crash involving two vehicles in the high desert of eastern Oregon. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the head-on collision happened after 10 a.m. Monday on Oregon Route 78 southeast of the small town of Burns. Oregon State Police Capt.

I'm more of a dog person, but if there is a place that is willing to pay me to live on an island in Greece and take care of cats, I'll become a feline fanatic. Well, there is someone offering such a job right now and they claim it's a real opening. God's Little People Cat Rescue posted on Facebook that they are looking for someone who can look after 55 cats on a little Greek island paradise called Syros.

I'm more of a dog person, but if there is a place that is willing to pay me to live on an island in Greece and take care of cats, I'll become a feline fanatic. Well, there is someone offering such a job right now and they claim it's a real opening. God's Little People Cat Rescue posted on Facebook that they are looking for someone who can look after 55 cats on a little Greek island paradise called Syros.

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SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash.- A flag football league in Spokane Valley is preparing for their first practice next week but organizers say they can't help but feel disappointed because someone suddenly vandalized the fields they have put so much work into. "We're pretty disappointed, a little beat up," said Jeff Miller, the Director for Upward Flag Football and Cheerleading.

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MEDICAL LAKE, Wash. - Officials say the Silver Lake Fire west of Spokane is now 20 percent contained and about 100 acres in size. Level 2 evacuation notices remain in place for Granite Lake South Road to Salnave Road in Cheney. Crews have a line around the fire and will continue to strengthen it throughout the day and into the nighttime hours.

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PINEVILLE, N.C. - A pregnant woman shopping at Staples says she was confronted about what she was concealing beneath her shirt: "Twins," she said. Sherell Bates tells WSOC-TV she was at the register paying for back-to-school supplies Friday when a police officer had her step aside and explain what was under her shirt.